Method

Make Ponzu by mixing ingredients together and refrigerate in an air tight container.

Can be made up to one month ahead.

Use as an alternative to soy sauce, as a dipping sauce or drizzled over steamed green vegetables.

Salsa

Make salsa by mixing salsa ingredients and adjust seasoning if required.

Barramundi

Score fish fillets by making 5 cuts lengthways through the skin only.

Lightly oil a cold ovenproof frypan, lightly salt skin side of barramundi and place in pan skin side down.

Place pan over a moderate heat and press fish firmly with another pan about one minute to stop fish curling.

Fish skin will stick to the pan but will release when pan cools.

Once fish is a third cooked, place pan in moderate oven (180°C) for 4 minutes.

Remove pan and set aside for 2 minutes to cool pan so skin releases.

Remove fish from pan carefully to retain crunchy skin.

Arrange fish pieces on salsa and top with a little butter and herbs.

Notes*

To cook buckwheat - Bring 1 cup (250ml) water and generous pinch of salt in a medium saucepan to the boil. Add ½ cup (110g) buckwheat and stir well with a fork. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 10-15 minutes until water is absorbed and the buckwheat has softened. (Be careful not to overcook or the buckwheat can become mushy.) Set buckwheat aside to cool. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Buckwheat is available from selected supermarkets, delicatessens and health food stores. Buckwheat could be substituted with couscous, quinoa or pearl tapioca.

Ready made Ponzu Sauce is available from Asian food stores.

Please feel free to leave your comments about this recipe in the comment section below.

About Author

When Shaun Presland was asked to take on the role of Executive Chef & launch Saké Restaurant & Bar, the 40-year-old chef says the timing was perfect. After dedicating 15 years to perfecting his craft by learning the fundamentals in Japan & training intensively with world-class Japanese chefs, he was ready to make an indelible mark on the Sydney dining scene.

“[Owner] John Szangolies approached me early in 2009 & said he wanted to open a contemporary Japanese restaurant with a focus on creating first-rate dishes from sustainable produce & promoting shared dining,” Shaun explains. “I immediately knew Saké was the right place for me.”

Once he had accepted the role of Executive Chef at Saké, Shaun seized the opportunity to match outstanding Australian fish & produce with the premium range of Kozaemon sakes exclusive to the restaurant. “Our goal was simply to serve up fresh & vibrant cuisine & great sake,” he says.

The Sydney dining scene responded with great enthusiasm &, according to Shaun, the first year following Saké’s November 2009 opening was nothing short of incredible. “We had numerous highlights, including taking on a MasterClass & Celebrity Challenge on MasterChef – it was an inspiring experience & we had fantastic support from the show,” Shaun reflects. “And, of course, winning a Chef’s Hat was an absolute honour.”

The Saké Sydney team were rewarded with a coveted Chef’s Hat in the Sydney Morning Herald 2010 Good Food Guide Awards. “It was the ultimate recognition from the industry that we’re doing the best we could do, & it came about thanks to the combination of an amazing kitchen team & excellent floor staff,” says Shaun, who was equally as delighted when Saké retained its Chef’s Hat in 2011.

The restaurant’s enormous success also resulted in a sister venue opening in Brisbane. Renowned Noosa chef Shinichi Maeda, formerly of Wasabi, assumed the role of Head Chef, with Shaun presiding over the menu. “I completely trusted Shinichi to replicate Saké Sydney dishes with integrity, which he has done,” says Shaun. “& he has had the freedom to add in the flavours he is renowned for.”

Located within the buzzy Eagle Street Pier precinct, Saké Brisbane has been open since November 2010. “As with Sydney, our aim was to provide a great environment in which to enjoy the wonders of contemporary Japanese cuisine, & Brisbane has upheld this goal,” Shaun adds.

A third restaurant has now been added to the brand. Set within the revitalised Melbourne Arts Centre, on the Yarra River, Saké Restaurant & Bar Melbourne opened in August 2012, allowing Shaun to present his contemporary cuisine to a new audience. “We’ve been looking for the perfect Melbourne venue for a while & couldn’t be happier with the riverside location,” he explains. “It’s an exciting time & it’s been fun working with the new team to present dishes that incorporate local ingredients!”

“As well as working with three dynamic teams, it’s the ongoing learning that keeps me inspired,” Shaun concludes. “Having the chance to share new ideas with our customers is the great thing about doing a job I am completely passionate about.”